Writing Routines
If you’ve followed me here for a while, then you maybe know by now that I live by my routines. I don’t die by them, meaning I try not to get too hung-up if something doesn’t go as planned, but the routines I have in place free me from worry that I’ve forgotten to do something and free me from pressure to do things at the last minute.
With a good routine and a weekly plan I’m able to accomplish my goals related to business, writing, family, hobbies, and social time. In this blog, Scott Myers discusses the process of writing and writing routines with various writers. I love to read about other’s routines, and I hope you enjoy this too.
AP Stylebook
When it comes to food terms, we often wonder about editorial style, italics, spelling, hyphens, and other seemingly fussy details. Every year the AP Stylebook (AP stands for Associated Press which is an association of newspapers, radio and TV stations.) includes food entries and adds new food entries that are making their way into mainstream media. The stylebook dictates how journalists, writers, and broadcasters are to “style” the terms presented in the book.
Here’s the link to an Eater article about the 2017 AP Stylebook as well as a link to the various options for buying the style book. I do like this list for two reasons: it shows me what food terms are becoming mainstream and how the AP likes to spell the terms. When we write our cookbooks, we pick our style, but it’s interesting to me to see the preferred spelling and style from the AP.
Writing Resources
On these sites you’ll find information about traditional and self-publishing, book marketing, writing, freelance opportunities, agents, copyrights, contracts, and author rights.
Publishers’ Weekly
Offers updates about all things related to publishing.
Publishers’ Marketplace
A well-known site for up-to-date information about the publishing industry. Also, available is a daily called Publishers Lunch for a subscription fee that summarizes book deals, changes in staff publishing houses, and acquisitions and mergers within the publishing industry.
The Creative Penn
Geared toward writers who are interested in writing eBooks with their various routes to publishing, as well as internet marketing and promotion for books.
Write To Done
Editor Mary Jaksch shares what she and guest bloggers have learned about writing better. This blog is for any writer looking to improve their craft and their art.
Women On Writing
WOW offers on-line writing classes and search functions for publication routes and agents. Sign-up for their e-Zine promoting the communication between women writers, their editors, their agents, and more.
Writer’s Digest
An excellent on-line resource for writers that offers blog posts, resources, and articles all about writing.
Media Bistro’s Avant Guild
Join the premium membership level AvantGuild at Media Bistro to enhance freelance writing work. For a membership fee you receive access on how to pitch articles, access to health insurance for freelancers, and discounts on classes, Freelance Marketplace, and more.
AgentQuery.com
Recognized by Writer’s Digest as one of the best websites for writers, this website provides a genre-specific searchable database of literary agents.
The Authors Guild
The Authors Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organization for writers. Since its beginnings over a century ago, we have served as the collective voice of American authors.
Cookbook Publishing
If you want to write a cookbook and you want to find a publisher that will pay you for your work (and you don’t pay them), then you need to build a platform and write a cookbook proposal.
Before you write your entire cookbook manuscript before you spend hours researching online publishing before you give up before you think it can’t be done I challenge you to take action on your platform and your proposal.
Build a platform
Write a book proposal
If you focus on completing tasks for your platform and your proposal you’ll be miles ahead of someone who sits back and dreams of writing a cookbook. And as always, if you want to discuss your cookbook project please schedule a complimentary Cookbook Clarity Conversation phone call. I’d love to talk with you about your cookbook dream and help get you on the right path to cookbook publication.
Cookbook author, editor, and Culinary Dietitian Maggie Green coaches aspiring cookbook authors during the pre-publication phase of writing a cookbook. If you want to write a cookbook, and wonder if you’re ready, download her 11-point checklist Am I Ready to Write a Cookbook?